Research firm Strategy Analytics has stated that it expects Samsung to widen the lead in the smartphone market over Apple during 2013. The research firm predicts Samsung will see 35% growth this year helped in part by a wider product line. The research firm also believes that to help counter the increased competition by Samsung that Apple might launch a smaller and cheaper “iPhone mini” next year.

A smaller-screened iPhone has been rumored for a number of years, but has never come to fruition. Apple addresses the “cheaper” bullet point by discounting previous generation iPhone models to selling alongside the current generation model. For example, the previous generation iPhone 4S is priced at $99 with a two-year contract, while the iPhone 4 is available for free with a two-year contract. The current generation iPhone 5 starts at $199.

However, with Apple finally rolling out a smaller iPad mini that has seen significant sales success, the market may be right for Apple to bring a pint-sized iPhone to the market.

The analytics firm believes that globally smartphone shipments will increase 27% during 2013 to 875,000,000 units. While 27% growth is a brisk pace, it is a significant decline from the 41% growth the smartphone market saw in 2012. Strategy Analytics blames slowing growth in North America, China, Asia, and Western Europe.

The research firm predicts that Samsung will sell 290 million smartphones in 2013, which is a significant increase from the estimated 215 million smartphones Samsung sold in 2012. It should be noted, however, that Samsung’s own internal numbers suggest that it will sell a more substantial 390 million smartphones for the year.

Apple is predicted to sell 180 million smartphones in 2013 for 33% increase from its 2012 sales numbers. If the research firm's predictions come true Samsung will hold 33% of the smartphone market with Apple a bit behind at 21%.

Wow... I just read that article. Brian S Hall is as deluded at Tony. No wonder he keeps posting it. It's like 2 dbag's with sideways hats pumping each other up... The 2 of them get real excited, but the rest of the world pays zero attention to the commotion, other than a quick eye roll.